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` making a part of this speciiication, in whichen o. Goeman, dor UNIONVILLEOHIO, AssIGNoR v"ro HMSELF AND A. BAILEY, OF THE SAME PLACE. Letters Patent No. 68,976, dated September 17, 1867.

rinnovi-3Mein.' In PORTABLE FIELD-FENCE.'

ro ALL WHOM 1T MAY CONCERN; y

Be it known that I, E. C. GODDARD, ot' Unionville, in the county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in aPortable Field-Fence; and I do hereby declare that `the following is a full and 4complete` description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of the fence.

Figure 2 isan end view.

Figure Skis a top view.

Figure 4 is also a side view.

Figures` 5 and 6- will be referred to in description.

Like letters of reference referate like parts in the views.

In iig. 1, A and B are the rails or bars of a fence-panel. It will he observedithat `the upper and lower` i rails are fastened to one sident' the cleats C,`and`the two central rails B on the opposite side, and also that the cleats are not placed at right angles to the bars, but 'slightly slanting, the purpose of Qwhich will hereafter be described. By thus nailing the upper and lower rails both on one side, and the centre ones on the opposite,

the two Vpanels can be locked together, as shown in iig. 3. Thus the upper and lower`- rails of-panel A( lap over on to the cleat of panel B', iig. 1, bringingV the railsA on the same side of the cleat C on which the centre rails B are, and the upper rails A of panel 2 over the cleat C of panel A', making by this means a strong, simple, and easily-eii'eeted locking together of the panels, which can be quickly put up or taken down,-

as there are -no pins, nails, or other device used in making the lock. This fence isLsupported-in an upright position by the triangular postD, fig. 2, the braces E ot which const-itu'tethe support, and which may bo either driven into the ground, as indicated by the dotted lines a, iig. 2, or secured to the sill F, and fastened together at the top `immediately under the upper rail by a pin, D', iig. 1. The sill may be dispensed with by using longer braces, driving the lower ends into the grounfL-and allowing the upper ends to pass between the second and upper rails, and pinning them together so as to stay them from any lateral movement. This arrangement is indicated by the dotted lines b, tig. 2, in which it will be seen that the lower edge' of the upper rail, and the upperedge of the second rail, are pressed aga-inst the braces, thus giving additional strength to .the fence. The bottom of the fence-is secured from slipping by'the' lower rails being lodged in a notch, E', fig. 2, thereby preventing any lateral displacement.

As above said, cleats are nailed sla-ntngly across the rails, the purpose of which is to adapt the line'ol fence tu the unevenness of the land thus in passing over a swell of ground the cleats, by being thus arranged in a. slanfting direction, will be brought close together, as shown in tig. 4, therebygivi'ng `additional strength` l to the lapping oi, the panels, and security to thc fence. It will be obvious that on turning the top of the. fence down, thus bringing the top rail to the bottom, the fence will adapt itself to hollow places with the same facility as it did to the risingground. In'thc use of this fence but few posts are required, it being supported mainly by stakes, indicated by the dotted lines G, which are simply lengths of boards; driven inte the ground between the middle and outer'rails, and which may be driven close to the cleats, orat the middle of the panels, ns the number of triangular posts used may render it expedient. n i

This fence is intended for a portable one for the purpose of folding tlecks of sheep, enclosing stacks `of grain, hay, tvc., or for other purposes requiring a cheap and quickly-constructed fence. The cleats being attached to the slats at an obtuse or acute angle from the base-line at alternate ends of ,each panel, it follows t that by turning the sections over, reversing the ends inrelation to the oblique slats C, the fence iseasly adjusted i to level or rolling ground; .but in making straight fence the slats may be placed at right angles t'o the rails, if preferred. By placing the stake Gbetween the cleats C C, as seen in figs. 5 and 6, `the slats maythen only lap on to the stake, as seen' in figs. 5 and 6,'instead of the cleats, as shown in fig. 4. The construction shown in figs. 5 and 6 admits ot'lthe rails being made shorter, orthe same length of rails will have more longitudinal extension than the arrangement shown infigxl, both having the same amount of lumbeljand by allowing `a spa-ce between one of the cleats C and stake G, iig.' 5, so as to slide 4the panel laterally,and Vmove it in and out ot' connection with the fenee, \a`, gate o r roadway :may be thus easily made.

i What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters'Patcnt, is i l The herein-described construction and arrangement of fence to form interlocking sections, straight and irregular lines, and gate-ways, by the combination of the oblique slats C C with intcrlockingpanels A B and osts con'ointl p. J Y E, c. connard);`

Witnesses J. H. Bunnl'ncn,

R. E. Mix. 

